Work-clamping bench



Q. HODGKINSON WORK cLAMPlNG BENCH.` PPL-lcATloN FILED 154189924., Patentedt'rune, 1922.

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OTRED HODGKINSON, OF OAKDALE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 FRANK J. TRCKA, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

WORK-CLAMPING BENCH.

lSpecification of Letters Patent. Patented June 6, 1922- Application filed September 9, 1921. Serial No. 499,493.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Orman HoDGKiNsoN. a citizen of the United States` residing at Oakdale. in the parish of Allen and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements .in Work Clamping Benches, of .which the following is a`specification.

This invention relates to work clamping benches and has particular reference to a `device of this general character especially adapted and designed for use in setting up and holding the framewrk of a rectangular form, such as'grain doors and the like, during the construction of the same. Particularly the present invention relates to an improvement on the device shown in the patent to Fra-nk J. Trcka, No. 1,245,638 issued Nov. e, 1917.

An object of my invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character havin novel and improved clamping means where y the boards or strips which enter into the construction of the door or other rectangular form may be effectively held in assembled relation to facilitate the attachment of the battens or other reinforcing strips and which is capable of operation by a single operator or artisan. y

A further object ot'my invention is to provide an improved movable clamping member 'extending longitudinally of the bench and overlying the upper surface thereof. movement of the clamping member being eected by operation of a longitudinally extending treadle operating a series of levers disposed at the opposite ends of a bench or table.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character '.vhich is simple in construction, in-

expensive to manufact-ure, convenientin use, and strong and durable.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown'a preferred embodiment of my invention and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the severalviews,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a work bench or table provided with my improved clamping means, and,`

Fig. 2 is Aan end view of the same.

l?. eerring te the drawings, it will be noted -the strips or boards.

that I employ a work bencli or table of any des1red o r preferred design and `of such a construction as to give stability thereto and supported at its opposite ends by legs or standards 6. The front pair of legs or standards 6 project slightly above the plane of the top surface of the table and are connected on their inner sides by a strip or bar 7 forming an abutment or guide for the side edges of the vinitial board or strip which enters into the construction of the door or other rectangular form. At one end of th'e table, I provlde a second permanent abutment 8 to act as a guide for the marginal ends of The remaining two sides of the table surface are unobstructed and flush, except for the improved clamping member to be hereinafter described.

Coacting with the working surface of the bench or table for the purpose of securely clamping the strips or boards in tight edgewise relation, I provide along the rear edge of the table or bench, a longitudinally extending clamping bar or Vstrip 9 capable of movement toward and from the adjacent edge of the table. This clamping bar 9 extends slightly above the plane oi the working surface of the table when the same is in closed or clamping position and forces the strips or boards against the stationary abutment? at the opposite side of the table surface. Movement of this clamping bar 9 is effected by means of a series of levers disposed at opposite ends of the bench or table and comprising horizontally extending levers 10, to the upturned ends of which are rigidly secured the clamping bar 9. These levers 1Q are disposed near the top of the table and are pivotally connected to the upper portion of the rear legs or standardsl 6 as shown at 11. Located below the levers 10 at a convenient height from the bottom of the table are the horizontally extending leyat 13, and extending slightly beyond the front legs or standards 6. The projecting ends of the levers 12 are connected by a suitable strip 14 forming a treadle yfor the operator-s foot. A third pair of levers 15 are pivotally connected to the forward free ends of the levers 10 and extend downwardly to a connecting pivotl 16 intermediate the ends of the levers 12. I further provide a pair of retractile coil spring members 17 the ends of which are secured to the rear standards 6 and to the levers 12 for the purpose of effectingl an upward movement of. the levers `12 about their pivots 13. It is thus obvious that when pressure is brought to bear. upon the treadle 14, that this downward movement is transmitted through the system or series of levers above described to the clamping bar or strip 9 causing the same to move toward the adjacent edge of the bench or table. As soon .as this pressure on thetreadle 14 is removed, the retrac-tile coil springs 17 return the clamping bar 9 to its inoperative position. 4

In operation, the boards or strips which are to enter into the construction of the door or other rectangular form are `assembled on the table surface edge to `edge, theinitial board bearing edgewise lagainst the longitudinal abutment 7, and the ends of the several boards abutting against the end stop 8. When the desired number of`strips or boards have been assembled, the operator places his foot upon the treadle 14 and exerts a downward pressure, overcoming they tension of the retractile coil springs 17 and causing the levers to act about their various pivots, thus forcing the inner face of fthe clamping bar 9 against the outer edge of the nearest board or strip to securely pressthe boards or strips into intimate edgewise rela- ,i

tion. While the boards are thus clamped, the operator appliesl the battens orother reinforcing strips and nails -the same and the several boards securely together. When this .has been accomplished, the pressure is removed from the treadle 14 and the retractile coil springs 17 cause the clamping bar 9 to automatically move away from the adjacent edge of the bench or table and the assembled door or other rectangular form may be readily and quickly removed.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to'be taken as a preferred example lof the same and that various changes in the shape,

size and arrangement of parts may be re` sorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i A device of the character described comprising a work assembling table havinga top surface and supporting legs at each corner of the same, a stationary abutment along the front edge of the top surface, a movable abutment at the opposite edge, an arm piv- `otally mounted upon each rear leg and at the upper portion of the same, said arms carrying at their rear end the said movable abutment, the said arms extending forwardly from their pivots to the front 'ofthe table, a second arm pivotallyy mounted upon the lower portion of each of saidrear legs, said second arms extending to the front ofthe table and substantially parallel with the first named arms, a third armconnecting the forward end of each of the first named arms with the Segond named arms at a point midway of the length of the latter, a spring attached at one end to one of the rear legs and 'at its other end tolone of the second named arms, and a foot pedal connecting the forward endsk of each ofthe second named arms and extending across the front of the table.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

OTRED HODGKINSON.

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